How can a Doula Help you?
What is a Doula?
The word Doula is Greek for “mother’s helper” or “women’s servant”. It refers to a woman who’s experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional and educational support to the mother and her partner before, during and after childbirth.
Physical Support: begins during early labour (can even be before a family leaves home) and continues through the birth and recovery
Emotional Support: helps families navigate feelings of fear, concern, hope, joy, excitement, etc
Educational Support: provides evidence based guidance to help make decisions leading up to, during and after the birth
Advocacy: helps families to communicate with their care provider and support each family by supporting their choices that are aligned to their personal goals
What does a Labour Doula do?
A labour doula recognizes that birth is a key life experience, and understands the needs of a woman in labour. She helps the family in preparing and carrying out birth plans, giving them confidence in their decision making. She is a continuous support for the woman and her family, both in the home and at the hospital and during all births, even medicated ones. She will provide emotional support, practical comfort measures, an objective viewpoint, and information to assist in well-informed decision-making. Her goal is to provide families with a positive birth experience.
Why hire a Labour Doula?
Statistics show that having a Doula present during a woman’s labour can result in a substantial reduction in interventions and complications that include:
Reduction of caesarean sections by 50%
Reduction of epidurals by 60%
Reduction of the use of forceps by 30%
Reduction in the length of labour by 24%
Reduction of oxytocin use by 40%
Reduction of use of pain meds by 40%
Increase in breastfeeding success by 59%
Increase satisfaction with birth experience 59%
Increased self image 58%
Reduction of Postpartum depression by 59%
when should I hire a doula?
You can hire a doula at any time during your pregnancy or postpartum! Of course hiring a doula earlier in pregnancy allows for support in the earlier stages of pregnancy, but some people only realize they’d like to hire a doula towards the end of their pregnancy, and that works as well.
What is a Postpartum Doula?
A postpartum Doula is woman experienced in caring for mothers and newborns. She provides support, advice, and practical care to all members of the family after the birth of the baby. Essentially, she “mothers the mother”.
What does a Postpartum Doula do?
The postpartum Doula nurtures the new mother and her family by providing support and reassurance to ensure comfort and build confidence in the new parents. She provides breastfeeding support, provides instruction and answers questions on newborn care and infant massage. She may also assist the family with light housekeeping, meal preparation, laundry, sibling care and shopping.
What is the difference between a doula and a midwife?
Midwife: A medical professional that is an expert in low risk pregnancy and birth. A midwife gives families a choice in birthplace (home vs birth centre vs hospital)
Doula: An unbiased, non-medical support person who sees families during pregnancy, birth and the recovery period. A doula is able to attend all types of births at all birth places.
Resources to Consider
Considering a doula for your birth experience? Consider the following resources to assist in your research.
The Association of Ontario Doulas' purpose is to:
Provide a public registry of trained doulas who abide by a Code of Ethics and Standard of Practice
Provide doulas with access to resources for doula training, continued professional development opportunities and networking opportunities within the doula community
Educate the public, health care community and third party insurers as to the benefits of doula presence for new and expectant families
Provide professional guidance to doula members.
Useful doula links and resources:
Discover Birth (this is where you can find Jen from Fitmama Strong Durham, when she’s wearing her Doula hat!)
Interested in joining us? Our classes are a great way to meet other new parents. Fitmama Strong Online has been operating classes online from our virtual studio since 2020. Our community is a thriving and welcoming space for you and your littles.
We offer Prenatal Fitness classes, live from our virtual studio. Our series of Prenatal classes includes On-Demand Prenatal Yoga classes. Our 30 minute live, online Express classes our our On-Demand library of pre-recorded workouts are a favourite for busy mamas who enjoy consistency in their workout regime.
If you’re new to Fitmama Strong Online, try one of our 3 Class Passes! You can use them at our postnatal Express Strong and Express Elevate classes. It doesn’t matter if your baby was born 6 weeks ago or 6 years ago, we have something for all postnatal members! Already been to Fitmama Strong classes? Grab a monthly membership and keep moving:)
Finally, we offer in-person Stroller Fitness and Babywearing Fitness through our Durham Region and Ottawa locations. We can’t wait to have you join us!
We can’t wait for you to #startwithus and #growwithus. Find your Fitmama Strong Location!
Sources
https://www.webmedicinecenter.com/doula/
https://www.pregnancyinfo.ca/your-pregnancy/preparing-for-birth/doulas/
https://www.webmd.com/baby/features/doulas-easing-birth#1
Sauls, D (2002). Effects of Labor Support on Mothers, Babies, and Birth Outcomes. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing; 31 (6); 733-741
https://doi.org/10.1177/0884217502239209
Gruber, K, et al (2013). Impacts of Doulas on Healthy Birth Outcomes. The Journal of Perinatal Education:22 (1): 49-58.